The gender pay gap isn’t about equal pay for equal work; it’s about the broader systemic factors that lead to men earning more than women on average.

Industries historically dominated by women, such as teaching and caregiving, tend to have lower wages than male-dominated fields like construction. Career breaks for childcare and caregiving, as well as part-time roles, which women are more likely to hold, contribute to the gap.

Companies making real progress in closing the gender gap focus on solutions such as increasing women in leadership, encouraging men to take paternity leave, and auditing pay structures to ensure fairness.